STATE OBTAINS $45,000 JUDGMENT AGAINST INSURANCE SCAMMER

HONOLULU – Attorney General Doug Chin announced today that the State won a summary judgment motion against Daniel Yoshio Doi. Doi had been previously found to have violated various provisions of chapter 488, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), titled Prepaid Legal Service, but had negotiated a settlement with the State Insurance Commissioner. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, Doi was required to cease operations of his company American Legacy Group Legal Plan, LLC, refund 23 clients for prepaid service plans that were not delivered, and pay a $50,000 penalty for his actions. $45,000 of the penalty was stayed until November 2, 2010, so long as Doi complied with the settlement agreement and did not continue to violate any provision of chapter 488, HRS.

Despite these settlement terms, however, Doi quickly created Financial Group Legal Plan, Inc., which continued to provide prepaid legal services in violation of Hawaii law. The violations he committed included illegally soliciting prepaid legal services and engagement in the unauthorized practice of law.

The summary judgment obtained by the State imposes a permanent injunction against Doi from violating Hawaii’s prepaid legal services law and from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The Court’s ruling also lifted the stay of the $45,000 civil penalty that was imposed in the administrative matter.

Attorney General Chin said, “When obtaining legal services or insurance products, it is best to make sure the providers are licensed or approved. Trust, but verify.”